World Health Organization
Public Health
o Public health, as defined by WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION (WHO center for Health
Development, 2004)
INTRODUCTION
o WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION was established in 7th April
in 1948.
o It is specialized non-political, health agency of united nation
with Head Quarter of Geneva Switzerland.
o It is responsible for providing leadership on Global Health
matters.
o Every year, 7th April is celebrated as “World Health Day”.
History
o First International Sanitary conference (1851).
o Pan American Sanitary Bureau (1902)
o The Health Organization of the league of nations (1923).
o United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration –
UNRRA (1943).
o Beginning / Starting of WHO (1945).
o International Health Conference (1946).
o In 1948, WHO had 56 members.
Objective
“The attainment by all people’s of the highest
level of health.”
Organizational Structural
World health assembly
Executive Board
Secretariat
Regions (6)
Members Countries (193)
1. World Health Assembly
o It is a Supreme Governing body of the organization.
o It meets in the month of May , in the Head Quarter of
Geneva
Main functions of assembly are:
1. To determine international health policy
2. To review work of past year
3. To approve the budget.
1. World Health Assembly
2. Executive Board
o The board composed of at least 18 members (before), but
now there are 34 members.
oThese members are technically qualified in the field of
health.
o The main functions of board is to help in decisions
and policies of the assembly.
o It has also power to take action in an emergency such as
epidemics, earthquake, floods etc.
2. Executive Board
3. Secretariat
o Secretariat is Headed by the Director General who is
the chief of technical and Administrative officer of the
Organization.
o There are 5 assistant of Director General and their
responsibility is assigned by DG in different divisions.
It has several divisions:
1. Environmental Health
2. Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Rehabilitative the technology
3. Family Health
4. Health services
3. Secretariat
4. Regions
Regions Headquarters
South East Asia New Delhi (India)
American Washington DC (U.S.A.)
Europe Copenhagen (Denmark)
Eastern Mediterranean Alexandria (Egypt)
Africa Brazzaville
Western Pacific Manila (Philippines)
4. Regions
5. Member state
o There are 193 Member states, among which 191 are
members and other two are associate members; Niue Island
and Cook Island.
o All are United Nation (UN) Member states, except 2
non-United Nation Members states; Liechtenstein and
Switzerland.
United Nation Assembly
Role of Public Health
o Providing leadership on matters critical to health.
o Research agenda and stimulating the generation,
translation and dissemination of valuable knowledge.
o Providing technical support, catalyzing, and building
sustainable institutional capacity.
o Monitoring the health situation and assessing health
trends.
Public Health Education and Action
Recent themes have been:
1. Vector-borne diseases (2014)
2. Healthy ageing (2012)
3. Drug resistance (2011)
Other official global public health campaigns marked by WHO are:
4. World Tuberculosis Day
5. World Malaria Day
6. World No Tobacco Day
7. World Blood Donor Day
8. World Hepatitis Day
9. World AIDS Day
Main working areas
o Prevention and control of specific disease
o Development of comprehensive health services
o Family Health
o Environmental Health
o Health Statistics
o Cooperation with other Organization
Emergency work
The World Health Organization's primary objective in
natural and man-made emergencies is to co-ordinate with
member states and other side to "reduce avoidable
loss of life and the burden of disease and disability”.
Health Policy
WHO addresses government health policy with two aims:
1. Firstly, “To determinants of health through policies and
programmers that enhance health equity and integrate
Poor people, and human rights-based approaches”
2. Secondly, "to promote a healthier environment, prevention
and influence public policies in all sectors”
Major Achievement
o Small Pox Eradication
o Alma Ata Conference : Concept of PHC
o Global Strategy for Health for all by 2000
Conclusion
“ Although WHO has both opportunities and challenges;
its contribution is great to increase the quality of live and
living standard globally”
